The Calcinotto Lab will start in July 2019 as part of the international Institute of Oncology Research IOR affiliated to USI – Università della Svizzera Italiana and part of a large and vibrant immunology community in the sunny part of Switzerland.
The interests of the Lab are focused on a different way of conceiving immunotherapy, blocking factors produced by immune cells that act as nourishment/triggers for tumor growth, progression and as causes of therapy resistance in hormonal-driven tumor such as breast cancer.

PostDoctoral position

Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. (already obtained or soon to be)

At least one first author publication in a relevant journal

A highly motivated and ambitious person with a strong interest in research

Strong background in basic and/or cancer immunology

Experience with multi-parameter flow cytometry, in vitro assays with primary immune cells and use of mouse models

Candidates with a background in humanized mouse models are also encouraged to apply

Ph.D. student position

A highly motivated and enthusiastic person with a strong interest in cancer immunology

At least one year of previous experience in the lab is highly desirable

The posts are funded by a 3-year research programme. Salary is highly competitive.
Applicants should submit curriculum vitae, cover letter and contact info for 2 references to jobs@ior.usi.ch with reference AC_PostDoc2019 or AC_PhDstudent2019.

More information on Dr. Calcinotto https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=calcinotto+a

]]>IOR is proud to present his latest Group Leaderhttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1774
Mon, 18 Feb 2019 15:53:02 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1774The Institute of Oncology Research is proud to announce the designation of a new Group Leader: Dr. Arianna Calcinotto.

Dr. Calcinotto obtained a PhD in Molecular Medicine with honors (Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, IT) in 2015. During her PhD she spent a period in the laboratory of Leif Bergsagel (Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, US).

During these years, she has developed an extensive knowledge and experience on cancer immunology. In particular, she studied cancer cell-immune cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment during different phases of cancer development and progression in both solid tumors and hematological malignancies developing novel immunotherapies for cancer.

Dr. Calcinotto did postdoctoral work at the Institute of Oncology Research IOR with Prof. Andrea Alimonti, where she described for the first time how an immune cell population can directly fuel the proliferation of prostate cancer cells.

As of 2019, Arianna Calcinotto has published >20 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including papers as first author in Nature and Nature communications.

Starting July 2019, Dr. Calcinotto will take the lead of the newly born Cancer Immunotherapy Lab at IOR.

The main research objective of the Cancer Immunotherapy Group is unraveling the multiple non-cell autonomous aspects of disease progression and therapy resistance dictated by immune cells in breast tumors and their contribution to genomic instability and cancer susceptibility.

]]>Pfizer Foundation Research Prize 2019 – accolades for researchers in Ticinohttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1767
Tue, 12 Feb 2019 13:43:42 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1767Yesterday evening, at a ceremony held in Zurich, the Pfizer Foundation awarded two prizes to research groups at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) and at the Institute of Oncology Research (IOR), both affiliated to Università della Svizzera italiana (USI Faculty of Biomedical Sciences).

Dr. Greta Guarda and Dr. Sonia Chelbi of the IRB received a prize for their research in the field of “Infectiology, rheumatology and immunology”, which investigates the mechanisms of a protein called RFX7. The two researchers – assisted by Dr. Wilson Castro of the University of Lausanne – have discovered how this protein can act as a brake on the cellular metabolism, thus playing a potential role in the development of certain diseases including tumours. The study was published by Nature Immunology.

Prof. Andrea Alimonti and Dr. Jingjing Chen of the IOR were awarded in the “Oncology” category. Their research work, published in the journal Nature Genetics, has highlighted a number of mechanisms underlying the proliferation of prostate cancer cells, which without the ability to efficiently produce lipids are no longer able to grow and degenerate into metastases (further information on the study at: www.usi.ch/it/feeds/6891).

This double award reveals the vitality and the high-level of scientific research that is conducted in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland. For Dr. Guarda, moreover, the prize is of particular significance: originally from Locarno, after studying molecular biology at the University of Zurich, she obtained her PhD at the IRB under the supervision of Federica Sallusto and Antonio Lanzavecchia. Appointed assistant professor at the University of Lausanne, she founded her own independent research group in 2012 with funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation and in 2013 received a prestigious ERC Starting Grant funding from the European Union. Finally, in March last year, she received the offer to return to Bellinzona as Group Leader.

Commenting on the award, Greta Guarda said: “I am very happy to have contributed to bringing this award to Bellinzona, as I owe a lot to the IRB. In the years spent away from Bellinzona, I have seen how the IRB has grown and how it has consolidated its attractiveness at an international level. Today, Ticino is an established and important reference point on the map of leading scientific research. Bellinzona, as a location, is considered an almost ideal place to do research, thanks to a first-class scientific context, a high quality of life and perfect connections (thanks also to Alp Transit) between two academic centres of the size and importance of Zurich and Milan”.

According to Prof. Alimonti: “The dynamism of Ticino from the scientific point of view is proven by several factors, including the international mobility of the researchers who work here. For example, Dr. Chen, with whom I conducted the study that won the award today, was recently appointed – thanks to our work – Senior research fellow at Harvard University”.

The Pfizer Foundation Research Prize

Awarded annually, since 1992, the Stiftung Pfizer Forschungspreis awards young researchers for their innovative contributions to basic and clinical research at institutes or clinics in Switzerland. With over 5.7 million Swiss francs awarded to over 300 researchers, the prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the field of medical research in Switzerland. www.pfizerforschungspreis.ch

]]>New publication by Dr. Catapano’s grouphttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1763
Tue, 12 Feb 2019 13:23:28 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1763A new study, published in Bioinformatics, dissects the complexity of human noncoding promoter-proximal transcriptome. The study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the promoter-proximal transcriptome in the human genome and offers novel insights into the roles of promoter-associated transcripts or paRNAs in transcriptional control, epigenetic processes, chromatin architecture and human diseases.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gained increasing relevance in epigenetic regulation and nuclear functional organization. High-throughput sequencing approaches have revealed frequent non-coding transcription in promoter-proximal regions. However, a comprehensive catalogue of promoter-associated RNAs (paRNAs) and an analysis of the possible interactions with neighboring genes and genomic regulatory elements are missing. Integrating data from multiple cell types and experimental platforms we identified thousands of paRNAs in the human genome. paRNAs are transcribed in both sense and antisense orientation, are mostly non-polyadenylated and retained in the cell nucleus. Transcriptional regulators, epigenetic effectors and activating chromatin marks are enriched in paRNA-positive promoters. Furthermore, paRNA-positive promoters exhibit chromatin signatures of both active promoters and enhancers. Promoters with paRNAs reside preferentially at chromatin loop boundaries, suggesting an involvement in anchor site recognition and chromatin looping. Importantly, these features are independent of the transcriptional state of neighboring genes. Thus, paRNAs may act as cis-regulatory modules with an impact on local recruitment of transcription factors, epigenetic state and chromatin loop organization. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the promoter-proximal transcriptome and offers novel insights into the roles of paRNAs in epigenetic processes and human diseases.

]]>New paper by Dr. Francesco Bertoni labhttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1759
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 16:20:33 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1759A new study led by Francesco Bertoni in collaboration with Francesco Forconi from the University of Southampton provides novel insights in the pathogenesis of hairy cell leukemia.

Classic hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare mature B cell tumor that is characterized by the acquisition of the BRAF V600E mutation, which leads to constitutive BRAF-MEK-ERK pathway activation and represents an effective therapeutic target in patients. However, the inability of BRAF inhibitors to completely eradicate HCL in patients suggests that factors other than genetics may contribute to disease pathogenesis and behavior.

Alberto Arribas and Andrea Rinaldi have investigated the DNA promoter methylation profiles of hairy cell leukemia and compared them with other B-cell tumor entities and with normal peripheral blood B cells at different stages of differentiation. A specific methylation signature of hairy cell leukemia, distinct from each B-cell tumor entity, including the closest entity, splenic marginal zone lymphoma could be identified. Comparison with normal B-cell subsets revealed the strongest similarity with post-germinal center (GC) B cells and highlighted the deregulation of individual genes coding for specific components of the B-cell receptor and the BRAF signaling pathways.

]]>Postdoctoral fellow – start date June/July 2019http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1752
Wed, 06 Feb 2019 09:59:10 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1752The Molecular Oncology group directed by Prof. Alimonti at the IOR – Institute of Oncology Research in Bellinzona, Switzerland is seeking a Postdoctoral fellow.
We are looking for highly motivated researchers with a PhD or equivalent degree. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on one of several projects focused on cancer immunotherapy. Applicants with a strong background in basic immunology and cancer immunology are encouraged to apply. Salary is highly competitive.

Specific projects include:

Basic immunology with a focus on myeloid or B cells

Cancer Immunotherapy

Candidate requirements

Ph.D or M.D./Ph.D. (already obtained or soon to be)

At least one first author publication in a relevant journal

Highly motivated person with strong interest in research

Experience using mouse models and/or generation of mouse model is also highly desirable.

The IOR is affiliated to USI – Università della Svizzera Italiana and other leading Swiss Universities and Research Centers. The IOR/IRB provide excellent core facilities, highly competitive salary and support structures, including automated microscopy systems, FACS scan and sorting facility, next generation sequence and animal facilities.

Complete applications, inclusive of curriculum vitae, two references, and short description of previous training and work experiences should be sent by e-mail to jobs@ior.usi.ch, reference: AA_PostDoc2019

]]>New paper by Dr. Francesco Bertoni Labhttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1740
Mon, 28 Jan 2019 12:36:25 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1740Inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a well-established therapeutic approach in B-cell malignancies and two BTK inhibitors, ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this new work by Bertoni’s lab and published on Haematologica, Chiara Tarantelli and colleagues studied an investigational second generation irreversible BTK inhibitor, zanubrutinib (BGB-3111), in combination with other targeted agents in lymphoma models. Zanubrutinib showed synergism when combined with the BET bromodomain inhibitor birabresib, the XPO1 antagonist selinexor, and especially with the MEK inhibitor pimasertib or the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax. Interestingly, we also provide data showing a different anti-tumor activity between 1st and 2nd generation BTK inhibitors.

The second Author, Lu Zhang, was a recipient of a fellowship from the European School of Oncology and by a grant from the National Nature Science Foundation of China (No.81400172).

]]>New Publication by Dr. Bertonihttp://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1731
Wed, 02 Jan 2019 10:28:58 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1731A publication in the Haematologica journal by Dr. Bertoni in collaboration with Prof. Luca Aresu of the Department of Veterinary Sciences from the University of Turin has paved the way to a new approach in biomedical research, highlighting the importance of the use of the dog as comparative and pre-clinical model in oncology medicine. Authors provide brand new data on transcriptomic, methylation and chromosomal rearrangements profiles of the canine Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This research holds the promise of improving treatment for both species. Target pathways, such as MYC, PI3K and NF-kB, have been identified showing similarity to the human DLBCL. Also, the authors have identified differences that should be considered in future clinical trials. One of the most intriguing results is related to the expression of a T-cell-related signature that affects the outcome of the dogs with DLBCL, including PD-1, PDL-1 and CTLA-4 genes. Definitely, the intact immune system in dogs developing spontaneous tumors will represent in the future an appealing element when working in comparative medicine.

New molecular and therapeutic insights into canine diffuse large B cell lymphoma elucidates the role of the dog as a model for human disease.

]]>Lecture Series of the PhD program “New approaches to the treatment of cancer”http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1713
Fri, 30 Nov 2018 13:49:56 +0000http://ior.iosi.ch/site/?p=1713Lecture of our International PhD Program in Cancer Biology and Oncology of USI (2018/2019)